Bennie Charles Hayman, native and lifelong resident of McComb, passed away at home on August 28th, 2022 at the age of 99. He was born June 25, 1923.

Hayman joined the U.S. Army Air Corps at the age of 18, after graduating from McComb High School. He was a nose gunner on a B-24 Liberator during World War II, flying in over 16 missions. Hayman's plane was shot down on April 5,1944 during a raid on the Ploesti Oil fields in Romania and he was captured, spending the next 17 months as a prisoner of war. As a result of his contributions to the war effort, Hayman was awarded with two Purple Hearts and a Distinguished Flying Cross.

He was a member of First Baptist Church of McComb and retired from South Central Bell Telephone Company. He enjoyed drinking coffee with his buddies every morning at a local restaurant and watching the LSU Tigers play.

Hayman was preceded in death by his parents, Bennie Lewis Hayman and Elva Naul Hayman; his wife of over 50 years, Sybil Thompson Hayman; and great-granddaughters, Eden Elisabeth Slaven and Laurel Elyse Slaven.

He is survived by his son, Jim N. Hayman (Jo), of Nolensville, TN; daughter, Lea Luby (Dave), of Pensacola, FL; granddaughter, Jessica Slaven, of Madison, MS; grandson, Jeremy Slaven (Kristen), of Clinton, MS; and great-granddaughters, Enly Gray Slaven and Eadie Claire Slaven, of Clinton, MS.

A visitation will be held Friday, September 2, 2022 beginning at 10AM until time of service at 12PM at Sharkey Funeral Home in Summit, MS. A graveside service will immediately follow at Hollywood Cemetery with Rev. Rick Edmonds officiating.

Mr. Hayman's family would like to extend their deepest thanks to the staff at St. Luke's Hospice for their kind and compassionate care over the past several months.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, LA.